DePauw vs Saint Benedict: Softball Program Comparison

Two D3 programs. Saint Benedict runs $5,876 less per year; Saint Benedict graduates 3 points more of its students.

Which one is right for you?

Neither school is better in the abstract — they are better for different athletes. These are the differences big enough to actually decide on.

Lean DePauw if…

  • You are weighing the degree as an investment: DePauw graduates earn about $7,267 more per year a decade after enrolling.
  • Your transcript is a strength: DePauw admits 57% of applicants, so strong grades count for more here.

Lean Saint Benedict if…

  • The number on the bill matters: Saint Benedict lists $5,876 less per year in tuition and housing than DePauw, and neither charges by residency.
  • Finishing the degree is the priority: Saint Benedict graduates 3 percentage points more of its students than DePauw.
  • You need an evaluation this summer: we track 3 camps at Saint Benedict against none listed at DePauw.
  • Admissions is the part you are least sure about: Saint Benedict admits 92% of applicants.

What it costs to go there

Published sticker price from IPEDS. Almost nobody pays it — athletic, academic and need-based aid all come off the top — but the gap between two schools is a fair read on the gap between two offers.

What it costs to go there: DePauw compared with Saint Benedict
MeasureDePauwSaint Benedict
Tuition & feesBoth schools charge one rate regardless of residency.$57,070$53,884 Saint Benedict leads on this measure: lower published tuition
Room & board$14,850$12,160 Saint Benedict leads on this measure: lower room & board
Est. year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid.$71,920$66,044 Saint Benedict leads on this measure: lower total cost per year

What you leave with

Federal College Scorecard figures for all students at the institution, not softball players specifically. Read them as a signal about the degree, not about the program.

What you leave with: DePauw compared with Saint Benedict
MeasureDePauwSaint Benedict
Graduation rate80%83% Saint Benedict leads on this measure: higher share of students finishing their degree
Median earnings, 10 years after entry$70,527/yr DePauw leads on this measure: higher median earnings a decade out$63,260/yr
Median debt at graduation$27,000$26,944
Debt as a share of year-10 payMedian debt divided by median earnings 10 years after entry. Lower is easier to pay back.38% DePauw leads on this measure: debt is a smaller share of what graduates earn43%

Getting in, and what you'd walk into

Admissions and size. A coach can support your file, but at most schools they cannot admit you — the academic profile below is the bar you still have to clear.

Getting in, and what you'd walk into: DePauw compared with Saint Benedict
MeasureDePauwSaint Benedict
Admission rateLower means more selective — harder to get in, but not automatically the better fit.57%92%
Total enrollmentNeither is better — it is the difference between a lecture hall and a seminar table.1,8191,451
Where it isGreencastle, INSaint Joseph, MN

The softball program itself

Division and conference set the ceiling; the postseason record and staff tell you what the program has actually done with it.

The softball program itself: DePauw compared with Saint Benedict
MeasureDePauwSaint Benedict
ConferenceNCACMIAC
Head coachGabby SmartRachael Click

How you actually get in front of them

Camps and questionnaires are the two channels a recruit controls. Where a program runs its own camp, that camp is usually the shortest path to being evaluated by the staff that would recruit you.

How you actually get in front of them: DePauw compared with Saint Benedict
MeasureDePauwSaint Benedict
Camps we track3 listed (3 with dates)
Recruiting questionnaireYesYes
Program on X / InstagramYesYes

Scholarship money, honestly

Both programs sit at NCAA Division III, so the scholarship rules are identical: 0 (no athletic scholarships). There are no athletic scholarships at D3 — by rule. But D3 schools often award generous academic merit and need-based aid that can rival an athletic scholarship elsewhere.

How D3 softball scholarships actually work →

What to do about it this week

Questionnaires are exempt from NCAA contact-date rules, so you can submit one at any age. A program's own camp is where its staff does most of its evaluating — submit the questionnaire first so they know to look for you.

DePauw

Open the recruiting questionnaire

Camps we track

None listed right now. Camp schedules go up through the winter — check the program's own site before ruling it out.

Saint Benedict

Open the recruiting questionnaire

Camps we track

DePauw vs Saint Benedict: common questions

Is DePauw or Saint Benedict cheaper?
On published price, Saint Benedict is cheaper — about $66,044 a year in tuition and housing, against $71,920 at DePauw. That is sticker price; athletic, academic and need-based aid all come off it, so ask both coaches what an actual offer would look like.
Which school graduates more of its students, DePauw or Saint Benedict?
Saint Benedict, at 83% against 80% at DePauw (IPEDS, 2023-24). That is the whole student body, not the softball roster.
Do DePauw and Saint Benedict offer softball scholarships?
Both play at NCAA Division III: 0 (no athletic scholarships). There are no athletic scholarships at D3 — by rule. But D3 schools often award generous academic merit and need-based aid that can rival an athletic scholarship elsewhere.
Do DePauw and Saint Benedict run softball camps?
We track 3 camps at Saint Benedict and none currently listed at DePauw. Camp listings change through the year — check the program's own site before ruling it out.
How do I contact the coaches at DePauw and Saint Benedict?
Both programs run a recruiting questionnaire, and that is the right first move — it is exempt from NCAA contact-date rules, so you can submit it at any age. Fill out both, then follow with an email to each staff.

Cost, graduation and enrollment figures from IPEDS (U.S. Dept. of Education, 2023-24). Earnings, debt and admission rates from the federal College Scorecard. Postseason results from the NCAA Division I softball tournament records, 2021-2026. Rankings from NCAA.com and U.S. News & World Report. Figures describe the institution, not the softball roster.

We work hard to keep all data for DePauw and Saint Benedict accurate and up-to-date, but we sometimes miss changes or get something wrong.

Still deciding between them?

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